A north-east community is hoping to raise £500,000 to replace a popular bridge after councillors decided it was no longer fit for purpose.
Newburgh’s dilapidated north bridge has been closed since January amid fears that someone would be seriously injured while trying to cross it.
Residents had hoped Aberdeenshire Council would invest in its refurbishment.
However, at yesterday’s meeting of the Formartine area committee, members agreed that it could not be saved and instead voted to spend £30,000 on its demolition.
Last night Newburgh community council bosses said they were “saddened” by how the saga had played out.
Glen Douglas, the group’s secretary, said he had met council officers before the meeting to tell them locals would be willing to help in any refurbishment programme – but the offer was turned down due to health and safety fears.
Mr Douglas said: “The community council is saddened that Aberdeenshire Council have allowed the bridge to become unsafe during the period they were legally responsible for its maintenance.”
He said the group was now considering ways to raise the £500,000 cost of providing a replacement over the Foveran Burn, but admitted it would be an uphill struggle.
“With the decision being taken to remove the bridge, the only chance now left to replace it would be the community raising the replacement money themselves,” Mr Douglas added.
“However, as this is estimated at between £400-500,000 it is unlikely that, unless a benefactor comes forward, this will be raised.”
During yesterday’s meeting, Newburgh councillor Paul Johnston said the decision to close the bridge was “regrettable”.
“We kind of let people down over it,” he said.
“That’s essentially the message that’s going out over this and it’s very regrettable.”
Speaking afterwards, councillor Gillian Owen said: “In reality we had no choice but to agree to demolition because we do have a duty of care and sadly residents are still ignoring the closed sign and using the bridge.
“A solution had to be agreed, and not necessarily the one that locals want.”
The bridge was given to the village by one of its most famous sons, Captain Thomas Fiddes Spalding, in 1902.
A council inspection in January 2015 found the structure to be in “very poor” condition, with corrosion noted on its steel beams and cracks in its concrete supports and platforms.